Crayon-trough.



A. DUDFIELD.

CRAYON THOUGH. APPLICATION FILED AUG- 7 i fim w. Patented Man 26, 1918.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Elwueuiioz JqLV N DUDFIELD A. DUDFIELD.

CRAYON THOUGH. I APPLICATION FEEDING-8.19M. 1 mwaw Patented Mar. 26,1918,

2 SHl-EETSSHEET 2.

tl'NlTFlll TE ATNT @FlFllQFE,

ALVIN IDUDFIELD, OF LIBERTY, MISEaOUB/I.

GRAYON-TROUGH.

Application filed. Augustfi, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALVIN DUDFIELD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Liberty, in the county of Clay and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crayon-Troughs, of which the following is a specification, reference bemg had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved crayon trough and more particularly to an article of this character designed for application to school room blackboards, of that type shown and described in Patent No. 1,088,886, issued to me March 3, 1914.

The present invention has for its primary object to generally increase the eiflciency and serviceability of such crayon troughs in practical use, as well as their strength and durability, and to provide means for mounting the trough which will render the same very rigid and substantial, but without in any way marring the blackboard or the wall.

It is also one of the important objects of the invention to provide a sectional crayon trough, the several parts of which are so constructed that they may be accurately fitted together with ease and facility and quickly mounted and secured in proper position with respect to the blackboard.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved cast metal corner bracket construction which constitutes in effect, a continuation and part of the crayon trough.

It is also a further general object of the invention to improve the mounting and construction of the original patented trough in the manner stated and without materially increasing the manufacturing cost thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of my crayon trough showing the same applied to a blackboard;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the main trough, a portion of the same being broken away to show the joint bracket;

Fig. i is a perspective View of one of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, rare.

Serial No. 185,166.

corner sections of the main trough and the cast metal supporting bracket therefor;

Fig. 5 is a similar View of the outwardly projecting cast metal corner bracket;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the end brackets;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view. showing the inner face of said bracket and the supporting means thereon for the trough wall;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the joint bracket;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View illustrating a two part construction of the main trough.

Referring in detail to the drawings, B designates the blackboard which may be of any suitable material and secured upon the face of the wall W in any approved manner. A furring strip F of wood is disposed beneath the blackboard B and has its outer face flush with the surface of the blackboard and with the wall plaster indicated at P. To the outer face of the furring strip F, a nailing strip S of wood is secured, the upper edge of said strip being spaced below the lower edge of the blackboard l3 and said strip also extending below the furring strip F upon the plaster P. In equipping wall blackboards such as are used in school rooms and similar institutions, with my improved crayon trough, the nailing strip S is first secured in the manner stated below each of the blackboard surfaces, and constitutes the sole means of attachment and support for the trough as now constructed.

The invention in its preferred embodiment, includes a main trough which is made up of a plurality of sheet metal sections, each preferably about ten feet in length.

f The trough proper, designated by the nu-.

meral 5, is formed in the metal sheet by suitably bending the same to provide a base wall, a rear upstanding vertical wall 6, and an outer longitudinally extending, outwardly inclined wall 7. The upper edge of the wall 6 is inclined outwardly and downwardly, as at 8, and the marginal portion thereof is angularly bent upon itself as at 9, to extend toward the vertical wall 6 and provide a reinforcement for the flange 8. p

The metal sheet from which the trough section is formed, projects outwardly from the upper edge of the trough wall 7, indicated at 10, then downwardly as at 11, and

from the latter portion of the metal sheet the same is obliquely inclined inwardly and downwardly, as at 12, and the other longitudinal edge of the metal sheet has a flange 13 thereon extending beneath the nailing strip S to which said flange is secured at intervals by means of the nails N. It will be seen that the outer trough wall 7 and the sections 10 and 11 of the sheet metal plate combine to provide a tubular, continuous longitudinally extending bead at the outer edge of the trough which materially increases the strength of the trough and more effectively resists inward buckling pres-' sures. The trough sections are braced and supported at their contiguous abutting ends, by means of the cast metal joint brackets 13 shown in. detail in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The body portion of the bracket fits snugly between the base wall of the trough 5 and the inwardly inclined wall 11. The body of the bracket is preferably of skeletonized form, and upon the upper transversely disposed portions thereof the ends of the base walls of the trough sections'rest. These trough walls are securedy fixed at intervals upon the upper edge of the strip S by means of the nails'N. The body of the bracket 13 is formed with an extension 14 which projects upwardly into the hollow reinforcing bead on the outer edge of the trough.

The bracket 13 is also provided at the juncture of its inclined portion with the vertical end portion thereof with a notch or recess indicated at 13 which is designed to receive a nail driven into the strip S, wherebythe bracket is securely held against shifting movement.

In Fig. 4: of the drawings, 1 have illustrated the trough construction at the reentrant angle of a wall. At such places, a sheet metal corner trough section 15 is used, having walls 6 and flanges 8 and 9 as above described, in connection with the main trough sections, suitably mitered' at their abutting ends. The outer end or point of the base wall of this corner section of the sheet metal trough is notched or cut away, as at 16. 17 designates the cast metal corner bracket which is arranged at this rentrant angle of the wall and which constitutes in effect, a continuation of the inclined walls 12 of the main trough sections, the obliquely inclined body walls of the bracket having flanges 18 on their lower edges to extend be- 'neath the nailing strip S, said flanges being provided with nail receiving openings 19. At the apex of this corner bracket, the same is formed with a right angled, upstanding lug 20 and shoulders 21 at the base of this lug, upon which the base wall of the sheet metal corner section 15 of the trough rests and is supported, the notch or recess 16 in said vvall accommodating the upstanding lug of the cast metal bracket. The outer faces 4 of the body of the bracket and'the surfaces in the same plane as the corresponding walls of the corner sections of the trough.

At the salient angle of the wal1,'a cast metal bracket shownrat 22 in Fig. 5, is ar- 1 ranged. The cross-sectional contour or outline of this bracket conforms in all respects. with the contour of the main sheet metal trough sections, and the outer surfaces of the angular walls of this cast metal bracket are likewise recessed or rabbeted, as at 23, so to receive the sheet metal'walls. The inner ends or apices of the walls of the bracket 22 are also provided with openings 24 to receive the fastening nails, whereby said bracket wallsare secured to the upper and 5 lOWer edges respectively of the nailing strip S. y

When the trough is applied to a black board which does "not extend the entire length of the wall, or when the trough ter- .90 minates at a door or window molding, the cast metal end brackets-25 (see Fig. 6) are used. Each of these brackets is provided with a flange 26 on one end having a screw receiving notch or recess 27, whereby it may be securely fixed to the strip S adjacent the door or window molding. I The upper edge of the bracket casting on its outer face, is formed with a heavy reinforcement indij cated at 28, and upon the inner face of the bracket, ribs 29'and 30 are formed, said ribs being convergently inclined and'integrally connected 'at one of their ends. With these connected ends of the ribs', an angularly disposed continuation 31 is formed. The inclined rib. 30 is spaced from the corresponding edge of the bracket plate, and the inclined wall 12 of the sheet metal trough is engaged against the same:- The hollow bead formed by thewallslO and 11 extends 11o around the continuation "31 of the ribs, and

n W111 be appreciated fromi the above 115 that a firm and substantial support is providedfor all portions of the sheet metal trough. These several parts can be readily assembled and quickly secured to the nailing strip S, and when mounted in position, the fastening nails N and N are completely hidden. The trough will, therefore, present a Very neat and attractive appearance and, by .the provision of the cast metal brackets at the salient corners of the wall, the trough portions formed by these brack-' ets are rendered exceedingly durable. As Y these corners are likely nto be frequently struck by .heavyobjects,fitwould be apparent that if they were 'of'sheet metal con- V struction, they would be liable to distortion and to possible complete displacement from the nailing strip S. p

In conjunction with the main trough above described, a tray 32 is provided which 'is adapted to be removably arranged within the trough. This tray which is also constructed in sections, preferably four feet long, is adapted to be removably fitted within the trough, the rear longitudinal wall 33 of the sheet metal tray extending beneath the flange 8 on the corresponding wall of the trough. The front longitudinal wall of the tray 3a which is outwardly inclined correspondingly to the inclined wall 7 of the trough, is provided upon its upper edge with an inwardly extending flange 35; A removable wire screen 36 is adapted to be arranged within the tray 32, said screen having a top wall and front and rear side walls. This screen is constructed of woven wire and the angular flange 9 011 the rear wall of the trough bears upon the top wall of the screen to hold the same in place and likewise retain the tray within the trough. This screen provides a very serviceable means for cleaning erasers, the crayon dust sifting through the interstices of the screen into the tray. The dust may be disposed of at intervals by simply removing the tray sections from the trough, and said tray sections easily and quickly cleaned and then replaced. Thus, it will be seen that the device is entirely sanitary and, by the provision of the removable dust trays mounted within the trough, the dust is prevented from being carried by air gusts into the room to settle upon the floor or clothing.

In Fig. 9 of the drawing, I have illus trated a slightly different construction of the main trough wherein the trough is formed in two sections designated 87 and 38 respectively, the sections 37 constituting the trough proper which receives the tray 32. The vertical portions of the two trough sections which together form the outer wall of the hollow bead as previously described, are provided, the section 37 with a channel or groove indicated at 39 and the section 38 with a down-turned flange 40 to fit within said channel or groove. The co-engaged portions of these sheet metal walls are then compressed or securely clenched together. While this two part construction is of some advantage in assembling the parts of the device, for the purpose of reducing the manufacturing cost, the first described one-piece construction of the trough is preferred.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of application and several advantages of my improved crayon trough will be fully understood. The trough in its improved form has been found exceedingly durable, as well as highly serviceable and convenient in practical use and capable of application to the usual school room blackboard without marring either the blackboard or the wall surface. The trough being entirely constructed of metal, cannot be defaced by mischievous pupils and is particularly designed for use in fire-proof buildings. While I have above referred to trough sections of a certain length, it is of course, apparent that the sheet metal sections can be of greater or less length as preferred. The cast metal corner oint end. brackets might also be modified in some respects, but in general, the illustrated construction of these parts will be adhered to. By the use of these brackets, the trough structure is renderedexceedingly rigid and with but slight additional cost to the cost of producing a trough of the construction disclosed in my original patent above re ferred to. The complete trough can be assembled and properly secured in place in a very expeditious manner. The securing means for the main trough herein described, while preferable, might also be somewhat modified in practice as the exigencies of the particular case might require. It is, therefore, to be understood that while I have disclosed what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is nevertheless susceptible of many alternative constructions and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A crayon trough comprising a trough proper formed of a metal sheet bent to provide a base wall adapted to be secured to the upper edge of a nailing strip and pro jecting outwardly from said strip, an upwardly projecting hollow bead at the outer edge of the base wall, and an inwardly and downwardly inclined wall having a longitudinally extending flange adapted to be so cured to the lower edge of the nailing strip.

2. A. crayon trough consisting of a single metal sheet bent to provide a trough base wall, an upwardly extending longitudinal rear wall, said base wall being adapted to be secured at intervals adjacent to the rear wall to the upper edge of a nailing strip, an upwardly extending hollow bead formed at the outer edge of the base wall and said metal sheet having a wall extending inwardly and downwardly from said head and provided with a flange to be secured to the lower edge of the nailing strip.

3. A crayon trough including trough sections each constructed of sheet metal bent to provide spaced walls adapted to be secured to the upper and lower edges of a ,Gopies of this patent may be obtained for nailing strip, rentrant corner brackets hav ng means to be secured to the nalhng ,strip andcons'tituting in effect a continua- .tlonyof one vwall of the trough sections, and

a sheet metal reentrant corner section supported by the bracket and constituting a continuation of the other walls of the trough sections. 4.'A crayon trough including main sheet metal trough sections each having spaced walls to be secured to a nailing strip, a cast -n1etal reentrant corner bracket also adapted to be secured to the nailing strip and constituting J11 efl'ect a continuation of one of the walls of the main trough sections, and a sheet metal reentrant corner section supwalls; adapted to be secured to a nailing strip, and a cast metal salient corner bracket also adapted to be secured to the nailing strip and having walls constituting in effect .continuations of the corresponding Walls of the sheet metal trough sections.

6. A crayon trough including main trough sections each constructed of sheet metal and having spaced walls adapted to be secured to a nailing strip, a cast metal joint bracket adapted to be arranged between the trough walls and supporting said walls at their abutting ends forwardly of the face of the nailing strip. 1 r

7 A crayon trough including main'trough sections each constructed of sheet metal bent to provide spaced Walls adapted to be se cured to a nailing strip and a hollow bead at the outer edge of the trough, and a cast metal joint bracket adaptedto be -arranged between the trough walls at the abuttingv ends thereof and having-an extension projecting upwardly into said hollow bead.

8. A crayon trough formedof sheet metal bent to provide spaced walls adapted to be secured to a nailing strip, a cast metal end bracket adapted to be secured to the nailing strip and having laterally projecting ribs on its inner face with which the trough walls are engaged. a a V 9. A crayon trough constructed of a metal sheet bent to provide spaced walls adapted to be secured to a nailing strip and having 7 a hollow bead connecting said spaced walls, and a cast metal end bracket provided with lntegral means on its inner face disposed between and engaged by the spaced walls of the trough and by the wall of said bead. In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN DUDFIELD. Witnesses: V

WM. F. N oR'roN,

7 TV. C. CRAWFORD.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner'of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

